Author: Carolyn Herbst Lewis

I dreamt a few nights ago that I was packing to return to India. My backpack was open, and I was considering which clothes to tuck inside. I was heading to Kayakalp, and I couldn't wait to get there. Ever since I returned from India a few weeks ago, I have been thinking about when …

Ask someone to name medicinal herbs, and they are likely to include lavender in their list. Lavender has long been appreciated for its many uses -- such as the herb's alleged ability to preserve one's chastity (when carried in a sachet), its aid in relieving headaches or melancholy, and even its antimicrobial properties for cleaning …

I recently returned from a lengthy trip to India and Japan. Both trips revolved around learning about traditional medicinal practices, although each trip had a different purpose to it. In India, I was participating in a faculty seminar offered through SIT on Public Health, Community, and Healthcare Systems in India. Traditional medicine was an integral …

The last few weeks have been filled with much excitement. In addition to finalizing travel plans for my upcoming global adventures, I turned 42, and I heard that my colleagues voted to promote me to associate professor with tenure in recognition of my scholarship, teaching, and service. On top of all of this good news, …

No. I'm not pregnant. But there seems to be an outbreak of morning sickness going around. When a friend messaged me to see if I had any advice for one of her friends who is trying to figure out how to manage her life from a crouched position in front of the toilet, I thought …

Five years ago, I made a career move from a large research institution in the Deep South to a small liberal arts college in the Midwest. This was and continues to be one of the best things that has happened in my life. Not only do I have my dream job, but my spouse, son, …

Once upon a time, I loved to eat fresh salsa. I lived in California, so it was plentiful. Then a bad thing happened: I got pregnant, and in the way things often go during pregnancy, I could no longer eat many of the foods I loved. Anything with cilantro in it made me violently ill. …

The problem with turmeric is that I have a hard time pronouncing it. I'm one of those people whose vocabulary expanded through reading voraciously. There are many words that I know how to use and spell correctly, but their correct pronounciation continues to elude me. It doesn't matter how many times someone has corrected me …

There is nothing Earth-shattering or paradigm-shifting about my smoothie recipe, but each ingredient is included with purpose that goes beyond the pleasures of flavor. Perhaps even more importantly, my smoothie recipe is a derivative of one made for me by a dear friend. Every time I make my smoothie, I think of her and the circle of women who sustain me and nourish my soul.